Law Society chief executive Janet Paraskeva has been appointed as the new First Civil Service Commissioner, it was announced just before the end-of-year break.

Downing Street also announced the appointment of Simmons & Simmons senior partner Janet Gaymer as Commissioner for Public Appointments and as a Civil Service Commissioner.


Ms Paraskeva, who has been in the top staff role at the Law Society for slightly more than five years, assumed her new responsibilities this month.


However, Law Society President Kevin Martin, confirmed that she would continue in her Chancery Lane role 'until at least next summer'. Mr Martin said the chief executive was needed to ensure an effective implementation of the changes at the Society following the Clementi review of legal profession regulation and the subsequent government White Paper.


A Law Society statement explained: 'Although Janet Paraskeva will be the First Civil Service Commissioner from the start of 2006, she will not carry out any significant work in that role (which is part-time) until May. Her Law Society workload will be reduced as the new chief executive of regulation takes up their post.'


The Society confirmed that it had begun the recruitment process for a chief executive of its regulation branch. Following 1 January, the Society has formally split its regulation, representation and complaints handling functions.


Mr Martin said there would be no conflict of interest between the two roles. 'We need Janet Paraskeva's skills and expertise over the next few months to ensure a smooth transition,' he said. 'I am confident that [she] will be able to separate her different responsibilities and continue to be an effective chief executive at this important time.'


The Civil Service Commissioners are effectively an ombudsman body for Whitehall mandarins, acting as a watchdog to ensure that appointments are made on merit and by hearing appeals under the civil service code of conduct.


Ms Paraskeva said: 'I am looking forward to working with fellow commissioners upholding the core values of an effective and impartial civil service. But there is still much work to be done at the Law Society in the coming months. Early next year, we will undertake the biggest ever consultation with solicitors on the future of the Society's representation work and I look forward to continuing to work on that.'


Ms Paraskeva and Ms Gaymer replace Baroness Usha Prashar - who was also the former chairwoman of the Law Society's governance review group - and Baroness Rennie Fritchie respectively.


Last autumn, it was announced that Ms Paraskeva had also been appointed as a non-executive director of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, which will be launched in April, and of the Consumer Council for Water.